Daily Readings March 21 - 27, 2010

Daily Lectionary
Fifth Sunday in Lent Exodus 1:1-22; Mark 14:12-3
March 22 Exodus 2:1-22; Mark 14:32-52
March 23 Exodus 2:23-3:22; Mark 14:53-72
March 24 Exodus 4:1-18; Mark 15:1-15
March 25 Exodus 4:19-31; Mark 15:16-32
March 26 Exodus 5:1-6:1; Mark 15:33-47
March 27 Exodus 7:1-25; Mark 16:1-20


Next Weeks Lessons: PALMARUM—Palm Sunday

“Behold, your King is coming to you, lowly, and sitting on a donkey.” (Zechariah 9:9–12; Matthew 21:1–9) Our Lord rides in this humble fashion because He is entering Jerusalem to humble Himself even to the point of death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5–11) His kingly crown will not be made of gold but of thorns, the sign of sin’s curse. For His royal reign is displayed in bearing this curse for His people, saving us from our enemies by sacrificing His own life. The sinless One takes the place of the sinner so that the sinner can be freed and bear the name “Barabbas,” “son of the Father.” (Matthew 26 and 27) It is at the name of this exalted Savior, Jesus, that we bow in humble faith. With the centurion who declared, “Truly this was the Son of God!” we are given to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.



Processional Gospel: Matthew 21:1–9 [Triumphal Entry]

Collect for the Palm Sunday Procession
Most merciful God, our heavenly Father, as the crowd at the gate of Jerusalem with gathered palms in their hands to greet Your dearly beloved Son when He came into His holy city, cause us ever to hail Him as the Son of David who comes in the name of the Lord and follow Him in the way that leads to eternal life, that when He comes again we may go forth to greet Him with faithful and steadfast hearts; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Collect
Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who sent Your Son, our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon Him our flesh and to suffer death upon the cross that all mankind should follow the example of His great humility, mercifully grant that we may both be guided by His patience in this life and also be made partakers of His resurrection; through the same Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.

Old Testament: Zechariah 9:9–12 [Behold, your King]
Epistle: Philippians 2:5–11 [Jesus humbled himself unto death]
Holy Gospel: Matthew 27:11–54 [St. Matthew’s Passion]